Partition construction



June mi? 192g. A G, DAWSQN 1,713,625

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 27, 1927 xe( (I. Dawson Patented June l1, 1929.

AXEL G. DAWSON, OF JAMES'IOWN, NEW YORK.

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION.

Application led September 27, 1927. Serial No. 222,264.

This invent-ion relates to an improvement in partition 4construction and more particularly to that part of the partition which directly adjoins walls and ceilings.

In its preferred embodiment this invention forms a part of a partition and comprises adjustable sliding members which are adaptable to adjustment to increase or 'decrease the length or height of a partition where it joins a wall or ceiling. j

In order to more fully explain the variations of thisinvention it is necessary to refer briefly to the construction of the present day partition. Varying styles and kinds of partitions have been in use for some time and,

although much improvement in their recent construction may be noted, the :tact that those now on the market do not meet all the requirements of the builder is well established. At present it is a prerequisite that partitions be built exactly to given' dimensions in length and height. j Any slight variance in a partition from its given dimensions necessitates a considerable amount of work which may be illustrated as follows: A given room is tobe partitioned 0E and madeinto two rooms, the thickness of the partitions and the manner of support are immaterial but it is necessary to know the exact height and width thereof besmaller than the partition, a portion of the end of the partition must in some way be removed. If such error happens to be in the height, a very considerable portion of the upper part of the partition must be removed. Such removal of portions of previously built up partitions is a costly operation as well as being detrimental to the strength and beauty thereof. It the partition is found to be slightly less than the width of the room or shorter than the ceiling height, much the same dit* ficulty will be encountered. However, in this case the partition would need to be added to, to properly lill the given space. Regardless of the material used in constructing partitions, whether it be wood, metal or metal glass, er Weed and glass, sueh alteration fore construction can begin. As is often the as above described is very costly and found to be wholly unsatisfactory.

It is applicants endeavor to so make partitions that they may be readily adaptable to overcome slight variations oi' errors in given dimensions or will readily take `care of unorseen cornices, projections, etc.

An object of this invention is to provide a partition construction including an adju'st able filler member which may be extended or retracted to adapt itsel'tl to a given wall or ceiling.

Another obj ect ot' this invention is to provide an adjustable filler member which may `not only be adjusted to abut a wall or ceiling again be capable of repeatedly bein to other room dimensions. i

g adapted Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration oi the follow ing specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and in which Fig. l is a fragmentary view oi a partition including a portion of the w'all an d ceiling;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l and illustrates the manner' in which the iiller member is moved to engage a given wall;

the ceiling; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view and illustrates generally the relative position of the side wall filler member to that ofthe `ceiling filler member.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 2, this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral l0, and comprises an adjustable iiller member 11, and pilaster 12.' The iiller member l1 comprises a fixed portion 14 and a movable portion l5 which are adapted to engage each other in a telescopic manner. The iixed portion. let ot the iiller member is channular in shape havm0' side walls 17 and an inner or base wall 105 19 and the wall 18, the purpose of which will later be described. The movable portion 15 of the filler member is similar in shape to the fixed member 1L1 but slightly smaller and adapted to be slidably engaged within t-he walls 17 of the fixed member 111. The member 15 comprises side walls 22 and an inner or base wall 23. The walls if) along their edges 21 have small projecting prongs 241 which are adapted to assist in holding the walls 22 of the filler member 11 in fixed relation to a given wall. Secured to the outer face of the wall 23, in any suitable manner as by welding', is a plate Q5 which corresponds in size and relative position to the plate 19 secured to the wall 18. Between the walls 22 a bracket Q6 is positioned, being secured along its flanges 27 to the walls 22. rlhis bracket gives rigidity to the movable member and also prevents it from collapsing. The inner end of' the fixed portion of the adjustable filler member is secured within or to a suitable post or pilaster. ln the present instance a pilaster adapted to receive the member 1-l within it is shown but it is obvious that other types of pilaster may be used to accommodate this member.

The pilaster 12 comprises two opposite fixed members 30 and 31 held in fixed position relative to each other by means of a reinforcing member The members and 81 are centrally and vertically indented at and 34: respectively, and terminate in vertical flanged portions 35 and 3G. The flanged port-ions 35 and 3G form pockets 37 and 38. 'lhe member 32 comprises two abutting channular elements 39 and f1() which are adapted to engage the pockets 37 and 38 in the members 30' and 31. The element 39 only is shown in engagement with pockets 37 and 88. The abutting faces of the elements 39 and 10 are secured to each other by welding or other suitable means and have an opening` l2 therethrough.

The flanged portions and 86 terminate in inwardly projecting flanges 1l-,4e and i5 and it is within. the space between these last named flanges that the fixed portion 14 ot the filler member is adapted to rest. A spacer l1G prevents the portion 14 ofthe filler member from being forced into too close engagement with the pilaster 12. inasmuch as there are several spacers in an ordinary height partition, there is no danger of the filler member being forced into such engagement with the pila-ster that it may not readily be removed.

An adjusting screw 48 having a slotted head 49 is positioned within t-he pilaster 12 and threadably engages the wall 18 and the plate 19 which form part of the fixed member 14. The screw 18 terminates at its outer 'end in a smooth or rounded over portion lation to the ceiling, it will be noted that this filler men'iber is identical in construction with that shown in Fig. 2 and therefore the description of it will not be in detail, inasmuch as like reference numerals refer to similar parts.' The fixed portion 141 of the filler nicmber when in position to engage the ceiling is seated within and upon a channular plate 5() which forms a `part of the cornice 51. 'lhe outer edges of the plate 5() terminate in upturned flanges 53 which are adapted to engage and support the trim portion of the cornice 51. An angle bracket 56, secured to the :face 57 of the plate 50 by means of screws 58, engages the pocket 59 formed by an upturned flange 69 in the trim portion 'lhe lower edge ol the trim terminates in a double flanged portion ('32 which engages a rail 63 formed along the upper edge of the partition and directly beneath the cornice 51. The plate 59 is rigidly and permanently secured to a dmvnwardly extending channel member 65. The channel member (i5 extends throughout the length of the partition, aligning and strengthening the entire partition construction and is rigidly secured to each pila ster` An opening 67 is cut through the channel member 65 and a corresponding` opening 68 is cut through the plate 50. Theseopenings are of a diameter considerably larger than the diameter of' the adjusting screw 48 which eX- tends therethrough. Y f A,

llfhen the adjustable filler member is used to provide ceiling height adjustment, the screws `which control such adjustment must of necessity be readily accessible. For this reason the trim which forms a part of the cornice is readily removable by loosening the screws 58 and removing the brackets 5G. ln the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the adj usting screws are all readily accessible at any and all times and in the eventfthat the adjustable filler member has not been made to firmly abut either the wall or ceiling, proper adjustment can be made without difliculty. Furthermore, it it is `desired to remove the partition the filler meinliers may be withdrawn fromthe wall or ceilingand the partition may be moved to a different loea tion.

lin order to insure a snug and kclose fit at all times between the fixed portion 1-land the movable portion 15, the, walls 1.7 oit the fixed portion 14'; are directed inwzn'dly to a slight degree. The base wall 18 and the plate 19 secured thereto are bent inwardly as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in order that, when the screw 48 is rotated to act upon and entend the movable portion 15, the pressure of said screw will tend to straighten the wall 18 and plate 19. Any change the wall 18 towards straightening will directly communicate that change to the walls 17 and bring them into closer engagementvwith the walls 22 of the movable member 15. lt is necessary that the CTI iso

being supported Within seid longitudinalV recess, means supporting and adapted to eX- tend said movable element whereby to bridge l0 the gap bet-Ween the cornice of the partition and the ceiling.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

AXEL G. DAWSON. 

